Kinsell, Edward C.

KINSELL, MAXFIELD, CARPENTER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/13/2009 at 07:09:58

Edward C. Kinsell, the proprietor of the leading livery, feed and sale stable of Colfax, was born in Lee County, Iowa, June 9, 1857, and is the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Maxfield) Kinsell, natives of Ohio. He is of German and Scotch extraction, but his ancestors came to America before the War for Independence, and his paternal great-grandfather served as a soldier in the army of the United Colonies. His father's mother was at the time of her death, in 1879, at the age of one hundred and two years, the oldest woman in the state of Iowa. His father, Henry Kinsell, came to Iowa in 1852 and settled on a farm in Lee County, at that time a very sparsely settled section of the country. From there he removed first to Greencastle, in this county, and shortly before his death came to the city of Colfax. He served in the Lee County militia as home guard during the War of the Rebellion. His wife still survives him and resides in the city of Colfax. Their six children are: Zach, Edward G., the subject of this history, William, James, and Jessie B., wife of William Bates, and Harry.

Edward C, Kinsell was thoroughly educated in the excellent schools of Lee County, and started out on his business career at the age of twenty-one as a farmer on leased land. Four years of this life was enough to convince the young man that the city offered wider fields for his genius, and he removed to the town of Colfax and engaged in various branches of the contractor's business, which he followed for some years. In 1890 he established a livery and sale stable, which he conducted until finding a favorable opportunity to sell at a profit. In the fall of 1892 he closed the business out, but opened his present stable the following spring.

Our subject married in 1890 Miss Eliza Carpenter, a native of Marion County, and daughter of John Carpenter. She is one of a family of twelve children, all of whom lived to maturity. Mr. Carpenter settled in Iowa at an early day, and was one of the first settlers in Marion County, coming to that portion of Iowa while it was still a territory. He received large concessions from the Government. His death occurred some years ago, but his wife still lives in Marion County.

Edward C. Kinsell at one time took a very active part in politics, and for twelve years was one of the representative Republicans of his county. He was elected at different times to the office of Constable of the village of Colfax and of the township of Washington. Mr. Kinsell and his wife have one child, a boy, born October 1, 1893. Mrs. Kinsell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 339.